Zimbabwe Denies Plot to Replace Mugabe

Zimbabwe's ruling Zanu-PF party yesterday scrambled to deny reports that two leading officials approached opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai with a plan for President Robert Mugabe to step down.

"This is a wicked, malicious and mischievous attempt to bring the British-sponsored MDC [the Movement for Democratic Change, Zimbabwe's opposition party] to power by unconstitutional means," said Zanu-PF's secretary for information Nathan Shamuyarira on state radio.

But Mr Tsvangirai insisted last night that the "exit plan" for Mr Mugabe to leave office before his term expires in 2008 was proposed to him by a mediator acting for two top party officials - parliament's Speaker, Emmerson Mnangagwa and General Vitalis Zvinavashe, chief of staff of the armed forces.

"They asked for the cooperation of the MDC in a transitional period after Mugabe leaves power," said Mr Tsvangirai. "That initial effort has collapsed, but I am sure there will be more such initiatives. Everyone is desperate to find a solution to Zimbabwe's crisis."

He said that the solution will come when the two parties, Zanu-PF and the MDC, sit down at a table and negotiate over Zimbabwe's return to democracy.

Mr Tsvangirai is due to stand trial on February 3 for allegedly plotting to have Mr Mugabe assassinated by a Canadian consultancy firm.

State radio, the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC), also carried a denial by Gen Zvinavashe who dismissed the report of his involvement in the plan as, "the work of enemies bent on destroying the country".

The radio news also stated that Mr Mnangagwa, the other alleged co-conspirator, had "no knowledge" of the plan.

The denials may have backfired, as they served to increase speculation in Zimbabwe about how much longer the 78 year-old president can continue in power.

"Even the ZBC is talking about Mugabe stepping down from power," said one motorist who was waiting in a one-kilo metre queue for petrol. "Of course he must step down when this country has no fuel, no mealie meal and no rule of law."

South Africa also denied involvement in any attempt to replace Mr Mugabe with a coalition government pending fresh elections.

"South Africa is neither aware of nor party to the reported deal," said foreign affairs spokesman Ronnie Mamoepa. He was not prepared to comment on whether South Africa would support such an arrangement.

The government in Pretoria had been involved in an effort to get Zanu-PF and the MDC to negotiate last year after Mr Mugabe's disputed re-election in March. But the effort quickly broke down.

The new attempt at negotiation is seen as significant because it came from two of the highest ranking members of Mr Mugabe's party.

It seems likely that Mr Mugabe did not know of their effort to open talks with Mr Tsvangirai.

"This was clearly an attempt to test the waters for a negotiated end to Mugabe's rule," said Brian Raftopoulos, chairman of the Zimbabwe Crisis Committee. "This time it may not have succeeded but the pressure is increasing for such negotiations, both internally and internationally. This negotiating could carry on for the rest of the year."

Mr Mugabe himself has not issued any comment on the reports. He is currently on an extended holiday in Thailand that has raised criticism from average Zimbabweans, who say he should not be out spending money when the country is grappling witheconomic problems.

The minister of information Jonathan Moyo was also busy denying South African press reports that he had gone on a shopping spree while on holiday in Johannesburg. The reports also stated that police were called to Mr Moyo's hotel because he was allegedly beating his wife. Mr Moyo blamed "British intelligence".